Vital Stats

17 April 2012

Conservatism: A Horror Story

As the US Presidential Election is getting close, I constantly hear stories from the news about the possible opponents, as the Republican Party is deciding who they will put as the opposing candidate. And sometimes, the views of the people who are in the running scare me. Seriously.

There's Mitt, Newt, and Rick. It's actually Rick, however, that scares the hell out of me a lot. I mean, there are larger fish to fry (the economy, for example), and yet all that comes out of his mouth is abortion and same-sex issues.

Take this article for example. He is characterized as someone with a deep and unwavering Catholic faith, and he thinks that America is on the road to cultural ruin due to secularism.

First, as much as I am an atheist, how does him being a Catholic affect people of other religions? The last time I checked, the USA is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country. I don't think someone who is bent on pushing one's own beliefs toward other people's throats is the best leader for this country.

And what's wrong with a university producing "The Vagina Monologues"? Santorum seems to be intent on pushing the USA back to the Puritan era, when there were Prohibition, witch hunts, and geocentric models of the solar system. I don't think I can handle that.

Most importantly, I don't think I can stomach a leader who cannot see the separation between religion and state as crucial. If he gets elected, then this will definitely influence my career path. I would definitely try my best to find an academic position that is far away from his government as possible.

So, now that Rick has decided to back out of the race, somehow I can breathe a little bit. Now let's see what Mitt does...

2 comments:

A lot of Americans scare the shit out of me. I don't understand how some people can be so conservative and mostly, why they want to force other people to have the same restricted mindset. Gay marriage, abortion, sexual and reproductive health etc. are not an issue (or a minor one) in so many countries. Why is it such a big deal in the US??? If you don't like gay people, well I don't know... don't be gay? If you are against abortion, it's your right, then don't get one. Life would be easier if people would stop thinking their belief entitle them to ruling the world around them!

I so agree. This is what I don't understand in conservative America, which is the desire to just shove into other people's throats one's beliefs, automatically assuming that one is correct. I am totally with you there, that life is easier if people don't brandish their beliefs in front of others.